The Big Crash - 1984 - Michigan International Speedway

The Big Crash - 1984 - Michigan International

TheBigCrash - 1984 - MichiganInternationalSpeedway On lap 26 of the Michigan 200 in September 1984, Derek was almost killed when he had the worst crash of his racing career. It was also the only time he was ever seriously injured in a race car. A light mist began to fall as he entered turn three. He lost control and hit the concrete wall head on at a speed of approximately 206 MPH. The car literally exploded around him. The doctors told him I had survived the hardest impact that a driver had EVER survived. The car disintegrated, as did much of his body. He air lifted immediately to the intensive care unit of the local hospital. Injuries included; a crushed left ankle from high velocity impact. Part of front of the lower tibia joint was removed with articular cartilage attached, most of a left foot toe was amputated, a compound fracture to left tibia, multiple fractures to left fibula, fractured left hip socket, multiple fractures to pelvis, broken ribs left side, multiple fractures to left hand, 3rd degree burns to left arm (triceps area), severe dislocations of right foot and ankle, deep abrasions and soft tissue loss to right heel, internal bleeding that was believed to have been caused by a lacerated liver (according to what he remembers the doctors saying). After being stabilized and multiple surgeries in Michigan during first week after the accident, Derek was transferred to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis where much of the earlier work on the left left ankle was re-done, as the Indy doctors who were more accustomed to explosive high impact injuries, believed that he did not have enough of a lower tibia joint surface to ever walk properly. They elected to perform bone grafting from his left hip to rebuild the lower left Tibia. At the end of the second round of surgeries he had 18 screws, 4 plates and a 12” rod inserted in my left leg/ankle. In all he had approximately 14 various surgeries over the course of 3 years. Therapy also went on for about 3 years. He recalls well many nights sweating in bed (because of the medications) and having to have the sheets changed in addition to his clothing. he was in hospital for two months, in a wheel chair for two months and on crutches for another three months. Six months after the impact, he attempted to stand on his own feet, which was when the difficulties of recovery really started. He was on a drug called Percoset for pain, Tigan for the upset stomach, sleeping pills and because this combination still did not settle him down they finally put him on Valium. The Valium contributed to him getting hooked on medication. When Ihe realized that he had become